Chess Wizards Buzz
Improving Your Chess Game
on Thursday, Jun 24, 2021
While learning how to play chess can be easy, improving your chess game can be hard. Everyone learns at different speeds, and it can take years of practice to get to where you want to be.
Super Cool Chess Books for Kids
on Friday, Jun 18, 2021
by Rachel Wells
Looking to nurture your child’s interest in the game of chess?
A great chess book is a great way to start!
Summer Camp Rocks
on Wednesday, Jun 09, 2021
by Rachel Wells
Summer camps offer a unique structured opportunity for children to grow and learn new skills while becoming more independent, self-confident, and social. It is critical that children continue to learn and grow during the summer months – and children who attend summer camps reap tons of benefits.
10 Ways to Grab (and Keep!) Your Students’ Attention
on Wednesday, Jun 09, 2021
by Rachel Wells
If you are looking for ways to grab and KEEP your students’ attention during your lessons, it’s time to get creative and try some of these fun ideas that can be used right away.
Benefits of Teaching Children to Play Chess
on Wednesday, Jun 09, 2021
by Rachel Wells
Chess is a game often synonymous with intelligence, and has been proven in many studies to be an excellent exercise for the brain. While chess may not help your biceps, your mental health can greatly benefit from playing. Chess has been proven to increase your IQ, improve memory function, help develop higher levels of creativity, simultaneously exercise both sides of the brain, help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia, and increase a child’s problem solving skills.
Chess Wizards Running 2019 Chicago Marathon
on Wednesday, Jun 09, 2021
by Rachel Wells
One of our own, Artem Ishchenko, teamed up with Girls on the Run, to run the Chicago Marathon, and raise money for this amazing program. Girls on the Run is an activity based youth development program for girls ages 8 – 14. The organization was created to inspire girls to be healthy and confident, and inspire every girl to believe in their limitless potential. Their curriculum integrates running and physical activities into all their lessons. More than 85% of the girls that participate in the Girls on the Run program receive some sort of financial assistance.
Stalemate
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
by Rob Brose
A stalemate is a tie game. In a chess tournament, it is worth a half point, so it is a much more preferable outcome than a big fat zero when you lose.
Recognizing Outstanding Wizards
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
Sheoli has been an instructor with Chess Wizards for 3 years in the DC area. Sheoli is a great instructor and we really value her at Chess Wizards. She really enjoys working with kids and the schools love her. Sheoli has a very kind way about her and is able to make kids excited about chess. Thank you Sheoli for being an amazing chess instructor!
FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019-2020
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2019-2020, is a series of four chess tournaments exclusively for women. The results of this tournament will qualify two players who will play in the Women’s Candidates Chess Championship in 2021.
The winner of the Candidate’s tournament will play a 12-game match against the world champion. Koneru Humpy from India, won the Sklolkovo FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, by making a draw in the final round against the reigning Women’s Champion Ju Wenjun from China. The “Indian Ace” won her first major championship after returning to competitive chess since the Batumi Olympiad in 2018.
September Vocabulary: Promotion
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
Promotion in chess is a rule that requires a pawn that reaches its eighth rank to be immediately replaced by the player’s choice of a queen, knight, rook, or bishop. The new piece replaces the pawn as part of the same move. The choice of new piece is not limited to pieces previously captured, therefor promotion can result in a player owning two or more queens.
To Ask or Not to Ask? That is the Question...
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
One of the most important things you can do in your class is to create a safe place for your students to learn. I always want my students to feel comfortable enough to be able to be themselves, which includes being able to ask questions confidently, and without feeling intimidated. From the very first day, in my introductory talk, I always tell my students that I love questions, and that there is no such thing as a silly question.
Take Me Chess
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
by Rob Brose
How many times have you moved a piece, maybe your Queen, to a square you thought was safe, maybe were even thinking, “Muahahahahaha! On my next move I’m going to checkmate their King, and win the game! This is going to be epic!
Racing Kings
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
by Rob Brose and Tim Dobbs
This variation game was first introduced to me by the great Wizard extraordinaire, Tim Dobbs, who is one of our Program Directors here at Chess Wizards. I don’t claim he’s the one who invented it, but he gets the credit for bringing this fun, challenging chess game to our classrooms.
Pawntastic
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
by Rob Brose
Pawntastic is the game we play with new students on their first day of chess class. It is a simple game that can be challenging in its own right, and is also great for practicing all of the other chess pieces.
Alien Colonization
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
by Rob Brose
Today, Kids, Wizards and Readers, we are embarking upon our first journey to Kepler-438b, a planet orbiting in the ‘goldilocks zone’ of its red dwarf star, 470 light-years from our planet Terra. We have located an area that is ideal for human habitation which you should see on screen momentarily (it looks strikingly similar to an empty chess board).
Chess Wizards is Hiring Nationwide
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
Do you think you have what it takes to be a Wizard? Chess Wizards is always looking for qualified, enthusiastic individuals who can make education fun. Our instructors...
The Knight
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
With a high-pitched scream loud enough to cut through the clash and clang of the battlefield, the mighty war horse blocks the sun from your view as it rears on powerful hindquarters, pumping its sharp hooves as if swimming in air. You need to dodge before you’re sliced and crushed, but where? A horse on two legs can easily pivot left or right from its original direction… just like it does in chess, and the consequences on the board can be as devastating as they are in any battlefield! So, what can we do with this horsey on the board? Quite a bit, actually!
En Passant – The Goofiest Chess Rule
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
by Rob Brose
To try and help you visualize and define En Passant (Meaning: "in passing"), this strange, esoteric rule of chess, you’re going to need a 50 lb bucket of live octopus (slime would be a cheaper, more humane, but less interesting alternative), an extra bucket of seawater, chalk, a blanket, a bowl of homemade soup, $50, and a volunteer. Preferably a gullible one.
October Vocabulary: Desperado
on Friday, Jun 12, 2020
Desperado is a Spanish word meaning ‘Out of Hope, or Desperate’.
In chess, a desperado is a piece that is en prise or trapped, but captures an enemy piece before it is captured itself.
Recognizing Outstanding Wizards - March 2020
on Monday, Mar 16, 2020
Sandra Gibbons, OR
Sandra has been at Chess Wizards since August, 2019 and is an enthusiastic and dedicated instructor. Sandra is well organized, creative, and always wants to make sure her students have a great experience.
Bishop Basics
on Friday, Mar 13, 2020
The bishop piece may be the most challenging one on the board to truly master, but it is also one of the most important. Continue reading to learn about the history, uses, and role of the bishop.
Recognizing Outstanding Wizards – February 2020
on Thursday, Feb 20, 2020
Wil Coloma, WA
Wil is a lead instructor in WA who has been teaching with Chess Wizards for almost a year and a half. He has a great attitude, a wonderful sense of humor, and is always a big hit with both the schools and the students. He is extremely reliable and subs whenever he can. Wil also helps to train new instructors and he always gets great feedback from them, saying that he runs an awesome class! I’ve done a few classes with Wil and he makes sure his students have fun while learning at the same time. One of Wil’s greatest assets is his sense of humor that he uses in the classroom. His dedication to Chess Wizards is something to be admired.
Recognizing Outstanding Wizards - January 2020
on Friday, Jan 17, 2020
Robin McQuinn, WA
Robin is a lead instructor in WA who has been teaching with Chess Wizards for over a year. Her sense of humor and work ethic are two of the things that schools and students both love about Robin. She puts her heart and soul into each class, and will always help out whenever she can, be it subbing for other instructors, training new instructors, or teaching classes that we really need her to teach. She does everything with a great sense of humor and a wonderful attitude.
Simple Chess Games to Play With Your Kids
on Tuesday, Oct 22, 2019
You don’t have to be a chess expert to enjoy a game of chess. In fact, you might be surprised to know that there are chess games you can play without fully knowing all the rules! Although I love the standard game, all of these ‘chess variation games’
Recognizing Outstanding Wizards: Amy Hayes
on Sunday, Oct 13, 2019
Amy has been with Chess Wizards for over two years and is one of the best instructors in IL. She has a great knowledge of chess, and the schools love her! Amy is very responsible and is always willing to go the extra mile, help out, and to sub. She pays attention to detail, has a great attitude, and is very passionate about teaching!
National Chess Day!
on Monday, Oct 07, 2019
Former U.S. President Gerald Ford announced the first National Chess Day on October 9th, 1976. Ever since, National Chess Day has been celebrated on the second Saturday in October. President Ford’s purpose in recognizing a National Chess Day, was to encourage individuals to engage in a game of chess and enhance their critical thinking skills.
The Chess Rules
on Saturday, Aug 03, 2019
by Rob Brose
This isn’t the only place on the internet you can find the rules of chess, but it is by far the best. Why? We have a sense of humor, for starters.
Welcome to the New Chess Wizards Website
on Thursday, Aug 22, 2013
We’ve spent the entire year working on an easier-to-use, more informative and interactive website. Registration is easier than it’s ever been. And once...